Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been awarded contracts worth Rs.8.4 billion ($178 million) for two thermal power projects in India’s Rajasthan.

Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Ltd (RVUNL) has placed orders for a 250 MW unit at Suratgarh and a 195 MW unit at Kota. Both units will developed on existing generation sites and are due to begin commercial operations in fiscal 2008-09.

BHEL’s scope of work includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of main plant equipment along with associated auxiliaries.

The contract followed news that BHEL has also won a contract for a 250 MW station for Tata Power Co. The contract for unit 8 of the Trombay station in Maharashtra is the first order for BHEL where the boiler will be designed to suit firing of imported coal.

BHEL has also recently announced major contract from India’s largest utility, the National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC), for 490 MW of capacity at its National Capital Thermal Power Project Stage-II, at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.

The project is slated for commissioning in fiscal 2009-10.